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DEFINITION OF LITERATURE.
It is very difficult to offer a precise definition of literature but a working definition shall be given in line with what shall be studies. Literature can be defined as piece of writings that are valued as work of art especially novels, plays and poems.
Literature as an imaginative work of art helps to expose the realities of human existence. Therefore, literature is the imaginative rendition of the writer’s feelings or emotions about him/herself or the society.
Literature can be defined or described as the window through which the people’s culture or way of life is seen.
Thus, literature is a mirror through which man sees the good, bad and ugly aspect of life.
Literature exposes what the society is and what it ought to be, what we are as person and what we should truly be indeed literature is a true representation of the way of life in a society, it looks at human virtues, it studies man’s successes and failures his strengths and weaknesses and how these are affected by time and environment.
According to Azurin literature expresses the feelings of people to society, to the government, to his surroundings, to his fellowmen and to his divine creator. The expression of one’s feeling according to him may be through love, sorrow, happiness, hatred, anger, pity .
Literature is a total experience shaped into beauty and attractiveness. Although literature has various definitions but all of them amount to one, that is, literature is an art that uses language creativity to mirror the society and person experience.
FUNCTIONS/ IMPORTANCE OF LITERATURE
People read literature for various reasons. These reasons may change in accordance with our age, our interest and the kind of literature we read.Pleasure, our basic reason for reading literature is probably pleasure. We read literature mostly because we enjoy it. Reading literature for pleasure may take various forms.
•We may read to pass the time
•We may equally read so as to find pleasure in learning about the life of a certain place or person
•We also read simply for enjoyment we get from the arrangement of words and moral sayings
•In all, the sole reason for reading is to find pleasureInformation and knowledge; also we often read literature for information and knowledge.
•We find possible solutions to our problems are like our own
•Through literature we sometimes understand situations we could not otherwise understand in real life
•Some critics still hold that the true ends of literature are to instruct and delight that is; not only giving us the knowledge but also learning us delighted.Thus, literature has different has different roles to perform in the society as follows.
Functions and Roles of Literature in the Society.
1. To educate people, literature teaches people on existing social, political and economic system
2. To express people culture, literature expresses people’s life and culture they have from one generation to another
3. To entertain people; literature as an art form gives those entertainments that appeal to human lives and invoke pleasure to the reader
4. To influence people in the society, literature is also designed to influence people by instilling in them the revolutionary ideas and different ways of thinking especially those positive and sustainable ideas
5. To develop language, literature uses language. Therefore, in so doing, literature develops all four language skills which are :
a) Listening
b) Speaking
c) Reading
d) Writing
It also improves vocabulary and grammar
6.To liberate people; literature also liberates people or awakens them from unfavourable conditions of file or bad treatment in the society.
7. To criticize the society; literature as a tool for awareness criticizes the society by pointing out the evils and other injustices in the society.
Finally; the function of literature is to delight and inform. This function is accompanied by various roles literature performs in the society.
Differences between Literature in English and English Literature
Before we look into the differences it is good we take at what these two terms actually are. Though they are used in interchangeably but there are differences.
English Literature
English literature refers to the study of texts from around the world written in the English Language. By studying English Literature, one knows or learns how to analyse a given text and write clearly using several styles of writing.
The purpose of English Literature is to teach culture, history and analysis of theme within a text.
Literature in English
Literature-in-English is the literature or work of art which is translated in English. It is the literacy work that covers all regions or countries of the world written in English by people who are not necessarily English people. It can be German French or any other literature translated into English. It is a type of literature written in English Language.Literature-in-English covers every major genres and style of writing as well.Differences between English literature and Literature-in-English
1. English literature refers to any literature work written in Great Britain and British Colonies. While Literature-in-English refers to literacy works from all over the world written in any other language.
2. English Literature is written in English language while, Literature-in-English is written in other language but is translated into English language.
3. English Literature mainly reflects the English culture, while Literature in English mirrors diverse cultures of the world through the genres of literature which are drama, prose and poetry.
Kind of Literature and Sources
Literature in English involves the reading and analysis of written materials of different kinds including fiction and non-fiction written works in English.
Sources of Literature
Literature could be written and unwritten. Before the advent of writing/printed material African has already be involved in literature and this is derived through the following sources:
1. Under oral literature
Riddles Jokes Songs and DanceFolk tales
2. Sources of literature Folk loreFestivals Rituals Myth Legend
Kinds of Literature
Generally, literature is divide into (2) two kinds namely; fictional and non-fictional literature.
Fictional Literature
This is the imaginary composed writing or work of art that is meant to provide information, education and entertainment to the reader. In other words, fictional literature is based on the writer’s imagination rather than reality. Examples; plays, short novels, stories, dance and songs.
Non-fictional
This is factual writing or written work that gives facts that can be proved as it provides real place, event, characters, times or reality, rather than imaginary things or idea. Examples of non-fictional literatures are; Biography, Auto biography, The Memoir, Essay, Journal, Magazines, subject textbooks such as in Geography, History and Civic Education.In our study of literature-in-English, however, we shall concentrate on fictional literature as exemplified above. It main concern is with drama (fiction) stories and poetry poem which are the genres of literature.
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